Star in the Storm

It's 1912 and a statute has been passed outlawing all non-shepherding dogs in Bonnie Bay, Newfoundland. But when a storm strikes the coast and founders a steamer offshore, 12-year-old Maggie knows that her dog, Sirius, can save the people on the ship. How she makes the the decision to bring Sirius out of hiding is the heart of this exciting adventure based upon true accounts.

It's 1912 and a statute has been passed outlawing all non-shepherding dogs in Bonnie Bay, Newfoundland. But when a storm strikes the coast and founders a steamer offshore, 12-year-old Maggie knows that her dog, Sirius, can save the people on the ship. How she makes the the decision to bring Sirius out of hiding is the heart of this exciting adventure based upon true accounts.

I love Newfoundland dogs and have owned two in the past. One book I loved was The New Complete Newfoundland by Margaret Booth Chern which has a lot of history on the breed and dogs. In that book are some stories of where newfoundland dogs had saved hundreds of people when ships were floundering and a Newfie swam through heavy surf to take a line from the ship to shore so a lifeline can be rigged. Star in a Storm is historical fiction based on dogs that saved people’s lives in that way.

The story is good and what makes the writing interesting is that it is filled with superstitions and terms accurate for the time (shortly after the Titanic had sunk.) The book opens with one:

A flock OF HUGE BLACK BIRDS SOARED, GATHERED, then landed one show more after another in the trees near Maggie. She paused in her walk up the hill, blocked her eyes against the spring sun, and counted.
“One for sadness, two for mirth,” Maggie quoted the old rhyme about crows and ravens her mother had taught her. “Three for marriage, four for birth; five for laughing, six for crying; seven for sickness, eight for dying; nine for silver, ten for gold; eleven for a secret that will never be told’
"A secret,” she whispered to the black Newfoundland dog by her side. She smiled as she thought of her father's warnings about pishogues —superstitious foolishness. “Everyone in Bonnie Bay has a secret, I'll wager-”

Several times in the book the young girl Maggie is looking for meaning based on that sighting of the number of crows she sees.

In the book there is conflict between Maggie’ s family the wealthy family. Non-shepherding dogs are outlawed. (I seemed to remember a point in history when stray Newfoundland dogs were rounded up.) When a ship is floundering, should Maggie take the dog from hiding to help?

What I particularly liked before the dog being outlawed part, was a glimpse of a time when dogs were still somewhat free, and automobiles didn’t make it a death trap for any dog freed from indoors. All of what they used to do with Newfies is at least mentioned. So definitely a good dog story, and more so if you are a fan of the breed. And who doesn’t love a happy ending.

(Imagine a storm raging, fear of losing your dog to the surf, and loved ones on the floundering ship for this excerpt:)

Maggie drew away from Ma and walked to the edge of the water. “Sirius!” she called through her cupped hands. “Come to me, boy. Bring me the rope.” Maggie searched for her dog's black form.
“Sirius!” The wind carried her cries out onto the foaming water “Please come to me, boy,” she begged. “Come on, Sirius Come, boy!”

Suddenly, out of the rising breakers, a form rose and fell with the waves.

Then there was Sirius staggering on the slippery rocks. With the rope clenched tightly in his teeth, he was heading straight for Maggie.

Maggie dashed into the cold surf and grabbed the line. She and Sirius stumbled to shore, where the fishermen took the rope, connected it to the pulleys, and began the rescue. show less

I love Newfoundland dogs and have owned two in the past. One book I loved was The New Complete Newfoundland by Margaret Booth Chern which has a lot of history on the breed and dogs. In that book are some stories of where newfoundland dogs had saved hundreds of people when ships were floundering and a Newfie swam through heavy surf to take a line from the ship to shore so a lifeline can be rigged. Star in a Storm is historical fiction based on dogs that saved people’s lives in that way.

The story is good and what makes the writing interesting is that it is filled with superstitions and terms accurate for the time (shortly after the Titanic had sunk.) The book opens with one:

A flock OF HUGE BLACK BIRDS SOARED, GATHERED, then landed one show more after another in the trees near Maggie. She paused in her walk up the hill, blocked her eyes against the spring sun, and counted.
“One for sadness, two for mirth,” Maggie quoted the old rhyme about crows and ravens her mother had taught her. “Three for marriage, four for birth; five for laughing, six for crying; seven for sickness, eight for dying; nine for silver, ten for gold; eleven for a secret that will never be told’
"A secret,” she whispered to the black Newfoundland dog by her side. She smiled as she thought of her father's warnings about pishogues —superstitious foolishness. “Everyone in Bonnie Bay has a secret, I'll wager-”

Several times in the book the young girl Maggie is looking for meaning based on that sighting of the number of crows she sees.

In the book there is conflict between Maggie’ s family the wealthy family. Non-shepherding dogs are outlawed. (I seemed to remember a point in history when stray Newfoundland dogs were rounded up.) When a ship is floundering, should Maggie take the dog from hiding to help?

What I particularly liked before the dog being outlawed part, was a glimpse of a time when dogs were still somewhat free, and automobiles didn’t make it a death trap for any dog freed from indoors. All of what they used to do with Newfies is at least mentioned. So definitely a good dog story, and more so if you are a fan of the breed. And who doesn’t love a happy ending.

(Imagine a storm raging, fear of losing your dog to the surf, and loved ones on the floundering ship for this excerpt:)

Maggie drew away from Ma and walked to the edge of the water. “Sirius!” she called through her cupped hands. “Come to me, boy. Bring me the rope.” Maggie searched for her dog's black form.
“Sirius!” The wind carried her cries out onto the foaming water “Please come to me, boy,” she begged. “Come on, Sirius Come, boy!”

Suddenly, out of the rising breakers, a form rose and fell with the waves.

Then there was Sirius staggering on the slippery rocks. With the rope clenched tightly in his teeth, he was heading straight for Maggie.

Maggie dashed into the cold surf and grabbed the line. She and Sirius stumbled to shore, where the fishermen took the rope, connected it to the pulleys, and began the rescue. show less

It's 1912 and a statute has been passed outlawing all non-shepherding dogs in Bonnie Bay, Newfoundland. But when a storm strikes the coast and founders a steamer offshore, 12-year-old Maggie knows that her dog, Sirius, can save the people on the ship. How she makes the the decision to bring Sirius out of hiding is the heart of this exciting adventure based upon true accounts.

Vaguely remembered this book from when I was a kid reading sunshine state books (my elementary school awarded those who read them all a sleep over in its library). I remembered it was about a Newfoundland named Sirius and that I loved it.

I happened to see it at the library and am glad to have reread it as an adult. Still a great surface story about happy endings.

A Newfie lover can't help but love it.